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Home My WebLink About2026-03-25 Finance Committee Minutes di Finance Committee Meeting Minutes of March 25, 2026 I IIIIiY)loll`ii�Ei@tl} �}pIt 1}i'I}y, (IIII II Illt'lll�ll I i ,i Executive Session: Chair Kean stated the Committee will enter Executive Session pursuant to M.G.L. c.30A, Sec.21(a)(6)-To consider purchase, exchange, lease or value of real estate MOTION: Mr. O'Connell made a motion, seconded by Ms. Irwin to enter into Executive Session at 6:30PM. Motion approved 5-0 by roll call vote. The Finance Committee moved to the School Admin Building Conference Room to enter into regular session. Call To Order: Chair Regina Kean called the open meeting to order at 7:OOPM in the School Admin Building located at 566 Main Street North Andover. Present: Chair Regina Kean, Vice Chair Denevan O'Connell, Jeanne Irwin, Eva Pastor, and Jennifer Watson. Not Present: Christine Allen, Keith Chaney, Nancy Sarro and Michelle Nadeau Non-Board Members in Attendance: Finance Director Dennis Keohane. OUT OF ORDER: Community Preservation Committee report John Simons, Chair of CPC, was present. Mr. Simons discussed the CPC finances. Mr. Simons stated one of the advantages of CPC is that there is matching funding from the state. Mr. Simons discussed the CPC recommended projects for FY27. Mr. Simons discussed the projects that were not recommended. Mr. Simons discussed their spending by category. Mr. Simons discussed the North Andover High School Field Infrastructure. Mr. Simons stated they decided to finish off the lower field by putting in the dugouts and other amenities. Mr. O'Connell asked what were some of the other priorities that they had. Mr. Simons stated the largest one was lights up top. Ms. Kean stated she thought they were doing lights up top on the upper turf. Mr. Simons stated yes, but not for all of it. Mr. Simons discussed the Gallagher Field renovation project. Mr. Simons stated they are going to reorder the way the field is set up. Mr. Simons stated there will be more room for parking on that side of the street. Mr. Simons discussed the Franklin School playground renovation project. Mr. Simons stated it is to enhance and improve the playground for the special needs children. Mr. Simons discussed the Berry Field vehicle and parking access project. Mr. Simons stated this project is dependent on a few other articles at Town Meeting being approved. Mr. Simons discussed the 0 Great Pond Road Municipal Purchase project. Mr. Simons discussed the Historic Preservation project reserve. Mr. Simons stated they allocated 10% of the estimated money that is going into the fund for next year. Mr. Simons discussed the Affordable Housing Trust allocation. Mr. Simons stated they typically do large affordable housing projects in conjunction with the housing authority. Ms. Irwin asked if Mr. Simons could go back to the projects that were not recommended. Mr. Simons stated the first project was that under the CPA rules, they were not allowed to use the money for what was being asked for. Mr. Simons explained the old rules of the CPA. PUBLIC HEARING MOTION: Mr. O'Connell motioned to open the Public Hearing on the Proposed FY27 Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Plan. Ms. Pastor seconded. Motion approved 5-0. di Finance Committee Meeting Minutes of March 25, 2026 I IIIIiY)loll`ii�Ei@tl} �}pIt 1}i'I}y, (IIII II Illt'lll�ll I i ,i Proposed FY27 Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Plan Ms. Watson asked what the projected reserve at the end of FY27 would be for the schools. Mr. Keohane stated it will be in the neighborhood of$2.8 million with the projection of roughly$1 million in the circuit breaker at the end of FY27. Mr. Keohane stated there is an anticipated roll forward in FY26, and they will be using all of that funding. Mr. Keohane stated a portion of the amount received in FY27 will also be used. Mr. Keohane stated they will be using$3.1 million of circuit breaker funding for the FY27 budget. Ms. Watson stated her biggest concern is the school budget is adding positions this year knowing next year will be catastrophic without an override. Ms. Watson stated she questions whether there should be different choices made that put the school department and the town in a stronger financial position in the event an override does not pass. Ms. Watson asked if they only vote on the general fund. Ms. Kean stated yes, they vote on the operating budget. Ms. Watson asked what it would mean if they were to vote no on the operating budget. Mr. O'Connell stated if they vote no that would mean to recommend to Town Meeting they not approve the budget as brought before them on the warrant. Ms. Kean stated someone would have to make a floor amendment to amend the budget. Ms. Kean stated they are only in that vote to allocate a certain amount of dollars to each department, not how they should be spending it. Mr. Keohane stated the circuit breaker carries over year after year, but the Finance Committee reserve does not. No public comment. MOTION: Mr. O'Connell motioned to close the Public Hearing on the Proposed FY27 Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Plan. Ms. Pastor seconded. Motion approved 5-0. NEW BUSINESS Vote on FY27 Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Plan Ms. Kean stated she also has the same concerns. Ms. Kean stated they have to make extremely clear to the public and in the Town Meeting that this is not sustainable, and there will be painful cuts again if they do not pass an override. Ms. Watson explained her concerns. Mr. O'Connell stated he is not entirely sure the budget numbers from previous years were exactly where they said they were. Mr. O'Connell stated last year and this year, they have real numbers and data they can look at with certainty. Mr. O'Connell expressed his concerns. Ms. Irwin stated they have tightened it up so much and know where the money is going. Ms. Irwin stated she does not think they will see hard number metrics for 4 or 5 years. Ms. Kean stated they are also encouraging an override for the Town as well. Ms. Kean stated it is an equal concern of hers to ensure that not only the schools but the rest of the Town gets the money that they need. Mr. O'Connell explained a bit about what is added into the warrant letter. Ms. Kean asked if anyone had comments on Fire Station 3. Mr. O'Connell stated the explanation from Mr. Keohane and Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues made sense to him. Mr. Keohane stated the Fire Station will be its own article. MOTION: Ms. Irwin motioned to recommend Favorable Action on the FY27 Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Plan. Ms. Pastor seconded. Motion approved 5-0. di Finance Committee Meeting Minutes of March 25, 2026 I IIIIiY)loll`ii�Ei@tl} �}pIt 1}i'I}y, (IIII II Illt'lll�ll I i ,i Discussion of warrant letter Ms. Kean explained what the Committee's statement should be within their letter regarding the school budget. Ms. Kean stated she began to draft the letter. Ms. Kean stated they should bring a copy to their next meeting for the rest of the Committee to see. APPROVAL OF OPEN SESSION MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 25, 2026 MOTION: Mr. O'Connell motioned to approve the open session minutes from February 25, 2026 as presented. Ms. Irwin seconded. Motion approved 5-0. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Mr. O'Connell made a MOTION, seconded by Ms. Pastor to adjourn the Finance Committee meeting at 7:59PM. Motion approved 5-0. Respectfully submitted. Nicole Civitarese Executive Assistant Documents used at meeting Presentations Minutes from 2/25/26